The Blues boss revealed that keeper Stephen Henderson has returned to parent club West Ham after injuring his ankle in training. The Irishman – whose deal was due to expire after the weekend anyway – is set to be out for at least two weeks, meaning Scott Loach will retain his place in goal at the weekend following an impressive performance at Aston Villa in the last Saturday’s spirited 2-1 defeat in the third round of the FA Cup.

McCarthy is undecided as to whether to extend Henderson’s loan at Town once he returns to fitness as the Hammers would insist that the move would once again have to include a 24-hour recall clause.

Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Lee Camp has been linked with a move to Town this week after reportedly being told he can leave the East Midlands club. New Forest boss Alex McLeish is understood to be closing in on the addition of QPR keeper Rob Green.

Asked if Henderson would be returning to Portman Road, McCarthy said: “He may do, although he could be out for a couple of weeks with his ankle. But I keep saying it leaves me a little bit exposed bearing in mind he’s got a 24-hour recall.

“I’ll talk to Sam Allardyce about that. Hendo wants to come back and I want to have him back, but the recall leaves me exposed. I understand it from West Ham’s point of view and they understand mine, they can’t take it out of it and I’d like to have one that’s mine to be used and not to be going back anywhere.”

Right-back Bradley Orr’s loan spell from Blackburn had been due to expire on January 26, but McCarthy has extended that until the end of the season. The 30-year-old will return to the Blues’ starting line-up at Cardiff, despite teenager Elliott Hewitt having impressed on his full debut against Villa.

“They (Blackburn) have agreed to extend to the end of the season,” said McCarthy, when asked about Orr.

“He’s got at least two years left on his deal there. It’ll all depend on what the deal is, but I like him (in the summer) and he’s done well. I think he brings something to it, he’s a good personality around the place.”

In terms of a longer stay, the Blues boss says Orr has “at least two” years remaining on his Blackburn contract and he’ll see how things develop in the summer: “It’ll all depend on what the deal is, but I like him and he’s done well. I think he brings something to it, he’s a good personality around the place.

Saturday is the last game that midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker is available for before his short-term contract expires. McCarthy is hopeful that a new deal can be struck with the former West ham and Villa player, with owner Marcus Evans currently negotiating with the 28-year-old’s agent.

McCarthy said: “I’ve spoken to Nigel, I’d like to just keep the status quo the same and keep him until the end of the season.”

Meanwhile, the Blues boss confirmed that veteran striker Jason Scotland is available for transfer. The arrivals of David McGoldrick, Aaron McLean and Frank Nouble over the last week has taken the number of strikers at the club to 10.

As a result, 33-year-old Scotland – who has made just one substitute appearance under McCarthy and is in the final year of his contract – has been transfer listed. The former Trinidad and Tobago international has been linked with loan moves to Brighton and Wolves, but McCarthy says the club has received no interest as of yet.

“Jason is likely to be going somewhere,” said McCarthy. “He’s been fabulous, Jason, he’s such a lovely character and a nice man, he’s been great around the place.

“But we’re going younger and hungrier, I guess, and unfortunately Jason’s missing out. But he understands and he’d like to go and play football somewhere in the twilight of his career.”

The Blues boss says young Irish striker Ronan Murray – who has just one first team start for the Blues to his name – is currently on his way to Plymouth to join the League Two side on loan.

And he also confirmed that winger Josh Carson is available for loan, with a couple of clubs having shown interest.

“They’ll both be going out on loan,” said McCarthy. “Ronan’s going out on loan, he’s on his way down to Plymouth at the moment.

“With Josh, there are a couple of clubs who would like to take him – we’ll wait and see what happens.”

– See tomorrow’s EADT for all the latest Blues news, including interviews with new boys David McGoldrick and Frank Nouble.

Football is all about opinions and it is my opinion that Mick McCarthy has made the right decision in sending Carson and Murray out on loan. My reasons are simple, I don't think that either player is good enough. Carson is certainly the better bet, but has in my opinion never shown the level of potential that is needed. He has been given opportunities and has just looked ok. Don't forget that MM has been watching him in training as well. As for Murray, well I believe it was Swindon that had him on loan last and he apparently spent most of the time on the bench and struggled to get into their first 11. Is that really the quality of player that we want?

So his getting rid of Scotland to give the youngsters a chance, but then wants to send Carson and Murray out on loan? Carson has never been giving a proper chance under mick nor has Murray or Scotland. As for Henderson we don't want him back when we got loach.

Tom - you're right - it's all down to a matter of personal opinion. I respect yours & that fact that you give the same consideration to others.
As regards Carson - my point was that he was in the team & doing well & was meant to be dropped for one game only because of his lack of height. I seems rather strange therefore that he has not been given another chance. Again you could be right in that his attitude in training has shown that he lacks something - but we have of course never been party to this. The only point I make which is not personal is the one relating to the fact that you can only truly judge players from competative matches - which I attribute to Ferguson & Wenger - & I'm sure many others if only I could remember. The point is that some rise to the big occassion while others wilt in the same atmosphere !!!!!!! As one small example to demonstrate this - just think of how we are constantly told that England players practice penalt kicks in training - but when it comes to the pressure of the real thing they are invariably found lacking. For the record I feel MM is getting a lot right - though not sure why we need more strikers (10) than Man City. I welcome the arrival of Nouble as a young striker who has actually been signed by the club & hope he gets a chance ahead of the plethera of loanees. This again is a personal opinion & I may well be wrong - but as a long standing ITFC supporter feel history shows that our times of success have related to having our own young hungry players & a vibrant youth system. As you say having different opinions makes the game more exiting - especially when we can have a reasoned discussion & not merely resort to insults like some on this site.

Very few managers avoid the sack and our last three have all had some success but then failed. Each of them have come here and done what they always have done. In some cases they have perpetuated their previous failures and in McCarthy's case enjoyed a modicum of success. These professionals appear united in their unwillingness to learn (despite the glaringly obvious) or to try anything new. I hope Mick's way works for us but I am beginning to wonder.

Old Timer - a valid argument and well made. However is it not possible that McCarthy has made a judgement on these players and decided they are not the ones to take Town forward. In the absence of any transfer offers sending them out on loan may be the best way to get the wages off the bill whilst allowing other teams an opportunity to decide whether to buy or offer contracts on expiry of present ones. It is down to McCarthy to decide whether to play or keep these players, but if his decision is that they are not good enough then it surely makes sense to replace them.

The fact is supporters will always think they know best, and having opinions is what makes this game interesting to follow as a fan. But as supporters we only see a tiny part of a player's overall offering - and only then if he plays. To suggest that the only reasonable way to judge a player is to play them in the first team is nonsense - on that logic, I would be given a game, before anyone could say that I was not up to it. No, a player's performance in training, in practice matches, their attitude, their comments to the manager about their future etc, are all a massive part. In the case of Carson, can anyone say he is anything other than a promising young player? I can't. He clearly hasn't kicked on enough. MM has seen it all before and I would go with his judgment and that of his coaching staff who work with these players, than some half-witted supporters who don't even bother to go games anymore (not including you in that Old Timer by the way!).

Bringing in various new loan signings & letting our own young players go out on similar loans seems to be repeating the failed policies of Jewell. Carson for example was doing well last season & was dropped by PJ for a particular match for being 'too short' - he was never given another chance. Murray was wanted by DiCanio at Swindon - a manager & a club who seem to be very much on the up. It is of course possible that neither of these players would have made the grade but my point is that they were never really given a chance. It is equally possible that the new loanees will improve the fortunes of ITFC - but am I alone in thinking there is something fundamentally wrong with farming out your own players to make room for those of other teams ????? Not only is this not building for the future but is a policy which has already been discredited & reminds us all too much of the abject failings of Jewell !!!

SussexTractorBoy - you may well be right - but this would mean that MM - like PJ before him - has based his judgemnent purely on how players perform in training. This is not a purely personal view & no lesser managers than Ferguson & Wenger have suggested you can only truly judge players on how they perform in the heat of battle. What is beyond question is that we the fans have not seen these players given a chance to show what they can do in a meaningful game - & it must be hard to lift yourself for training or reserve team fixtures ???
My real concern is that we at Ipswich built our success on a youth tradition in as much as young players came here knowing a) they would be well coached & b) they would be given a chance. My fear is that having seen the treatment of players such as Carson Murray Hyam Hewitt etc the next generation of talent will be reluctant to chose Ipswich. If this does happen we will again be drawn into using short term loanees instead - thus setting the whole vicious circle in motion again. You can watch any meaningful discussion on football & virtually all pundits will agree that success will only come with a 'settled team'. The personel changes at ITFC over the past 3 seasons must surely make us the least settled team in the Championship & without our own players coming through this trend is likely to continue.
During his 13 year tenure Bobby Robson brought in a total of 14 players - a figure that has probably already been equalled in this half season alone by messrs PJ & MM ?????

Mick the No Loans man becomes Six Loans McCarthy at a stroke with his 2nd depressing loan of Orr... what I wonder does Hewitt think of such an idiotic kick in the teeth. Meanwhile, shortly after presenting this depressing scenario Mick the No Loans Man makes Scotland a condemned man because the club is going younger aand hungrier.... which appears to be no loans speak for replacing contracted players with farmed in players on the merry-go-round.

I see certain posters are still moaning about MM.why don't you just give him a chance and get off his back.Also are some of you saying Murray and Carson would be better than the team MM puts out.(I don't think so) he has ,or is sending them out to get matches under there belts,they have not been sold.Before MM managed to get the three strikers in can you apart from DJ honestly say the other forwards were any good.The answer is no.Goals win games and that is what MM has gone for !there is almost cover for every position.With regard to Bobby Robson only brining in 14 players,the loan system was not in then so that narrowed his choice down.PLEASE get off MM back.or don't post on this page.

Ex-Ipswich Town homegrown star Titus Bramble is back at the club as a youth team coach. STUART WATSON spoke to him about an emotional trip to Ghana and how he wants the Blues’ current teenagers not to repeat his mistakes.